Hagenson speaks on State DOT vehicle inspector's decision

“Tender 2 he will not pass, and he said it should not be driven on the road anymore.”

Kenny Hagenson, Captain

Council is taking two weeks to see where things stand in terms of finances and planning on a second water tender.

With Northside, Film Tech, and others among the several large business expansions happening in the city, the need for another tender was urgent, having a potential impact on both the city’s ISO rating and mutual aid, with Tender 1 confined to the city until Tender 2 was replaced.

Appearing before the council on Monday, April 17, Stanley Fire Chief Korey Hagenson brought a request: one new tender truck, please. The reason, as explained was that Stanley now had one effective water tender truck after a second had failed inspection.

“Tender 2 he will not pass, and he said it should not be driven on the road anymore,” Hagenson said of the vehicle inspector from the State DOT. Both tenders had failed initially, with the first passed after being sent to Thorp for repairs to the dry shaft and exhaust. Initially bought for grass fires, Tender 2 had frame issues, it was made known.

Among the potential replacements that Hagenson had found for the out of commission water truck was a 1996 Ford that didn’t meet the city’s ISO fire insurance requirements, and a 2002 Pierce Saber, the latter potentially costing $250,00. Alderman Mark Fitzsimmons had a question for Hagenson.

“So, my question is, are these coming from certified places or other places,” he asked, with Hagenson replying “certified” and mentioning Fire Tech as an example. With Northside, Film Tech, and others among the several large business expansions happening in the city, the need for another tender was urgent, having a potential impact on both the city’s ISO rating and mutual aid, with Tender 1 confined to the city until Tender 2 was replaced.

“We come to your calls, but you don’t come to ours,” Captain Kenny Hagenson (chosen as such by the firefighters) said of the potential fallout with other departments from being short a water truck. Before a new tender could be found, however, there was another issue to address: budgeting.

“We’ve been here before Korey,” alderman Kevin Hendrickson said of wanting more specific numbers on fire department matters. The city reset the fire department’s turnout gear replacement schedule several years back, after it came to light that many had lapsed.

With the council taking two weeks to see where things stood in terms of finances and planning on a second water tender, the possibility of seeking a new frame to hold the Tender 2 water tank was briefly floated, with no firm decisions being made. Hagenson had one last request for the council with regards to the sought for water truck.

“Just don’t find us a lime green one, please,” he said.

The council is due to revisit the matter on May 1.